Summer is...

beautiful.

Don't you think?

Honey Nut Cheerios Giveaway- WINNER

Happy Friday!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway for the Honey Nut Cheerios prize pack giveaway.

According to random.org, the winner is...

Heidi

Congratulations, Heidi!!

Sponsored Post- TRACFONE

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As most of you lovely readers know, my husband and I are both college students.  We live on a limited income, and during the summer, we have to really watch every penny.  We have cut out a lot of extras, like going out to eat and cable TV.  Another decision we made was to get rid of our expensive phone plans and get pre-paid phones instead. 

Tracfone me to check out their phones and plans, and I have to say, I was pretty impressed. There are no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charge or cancellation fees. Basically, no surprises! Tracfone provides great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity.  They have brand name phones from all the leading manufacturers like Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia, LG and Samsung. 

There are simple phones starting at $10.00, and decked out phones starting at $29.99.  Pay as you go online, or you can purchase plans, like 200 minutes a month for under $30. Their 1 year service card for $119.00 also interested me.  You receive double minutes for the life of your Tracfone, and 800 minutes at that price.

Mark's family visits Canada often, so it was cool to learn that this is the only wireless service where you can call internationally, for the same price as any other call. Useful, for sure!rer think that a Tracfone is perfect for those of us who don't want to worry about a monthly
phone bill.  And it would be a really good solution for parents who want to stay connected with
their children but don't want to be shocked by the bill at the end of the month! Ir

Overall, I was glad that I was asked to review Tracfone's phones and service, because it is something I will actually use. A Tracfone would also be a great way to stay in touch with your kids over the summer without worrying what the phone bill will be at the end of the month!

 think that a Tracfone is perfect for those of us who don't want to worry about a monthly
phone bill.  And it would be a really good solution for parents who want to stay connected with
their children but don't want to be shocked by the bill at the end of the month!  I think that a Tracfone is perfect for those of us who don't want to worry about a monthly
phone bill.  And it would be a really good solution for parents who want to stay connected with
their children but don't want to be shocked by the bill at the end of the month! I think that a Tracfone is perfect for those of us who don't want to worry about a monthly
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their children but don't want to be shocked by the bill at the end of the month!               See what these real Tracfone customers have to say about their service real TracFone customers real TracFone customers

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IfaTThtBbjU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Small Style- Serious Model/Silly Model

Liam watched Maggie and I pose for our outfit pictures, and then I asked him to sit on the step. He ran right over with a huge smile on his face.  He sat quietly and almost motionless for a minute.  He is my calm thinker.  My serious boy.

He politely changed up his poses just enough to make it interesting.

Ewok T-shirt: Old Navy, Sweat Shorts:Old Navy, Sandals:Target

Maggie is doing her usual silly poses.  She is so funny!

Magdalena's dress and shoes are from Old Navy

I call this her "High Fashion" Pose because...well, look at it!

Funny Girl!  Her pigtails are so long!  All these clothes were gifts from her grandma.

I am linking up with Mama Loves Papa

Beautiful Just The Way I Am

Welcome to the second week of Beautiful Just The Way I Am.  I started this to create a place to support and encourage those of us who are plus size and love fashion.  I've received too many looks and heard too many insults to let the naysayers win. Let's celebrate our unique beauty, where ever we are right now.  Join me and other plus size girls by linking up with me on Wednesdays. Thank you SO MUCH to those of you who did link up with me last week. It was like a virtual hug. You can find this week's linky at the end of this post.

 And now, onto the clothes!

I've spending most evenings swimming at my mom's house, so I took advantage of the farm-y setting and posed with the goats.  'Cause it can't always be just about me, can it?

 

Blue Skinny Jeans-Old Navy Plus

Tank- Old Navy

Cardigan- Anthropologie, 7 years ago!

White Wedges-Thrifted

Purse- Local Boutique, The Fashion Lounge

Yeah, so it's incredibly hard to walk in the goat pen with wedges on.  But I was still like, "What's up? I'm in a goat pen."

 And the next time I was there, I moved into the middle of the street.  It's always an awesome shot straight down this empty road.

Maxi Dress- Old Navy

Cheetah Tank-Target

Belt-From an old trench coat

Sandals- Forever 21

Sunglasses- Borrowed from my husband

I only managed two outfits this week, my goal is three for next week.  I feel so much better and so confident when I know I look my best, don't you?

I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

Link up below and don't forget to enter my giveaway ending Friday night!

Beautiful Just The Way I Am- Link Up Tomorrow!

I was so touched that people had such a strong reaction to my post last week for What I Wore Wednesday and the beginning of 'Beautiful Just The Way I Am'.  I seriously got tears in my eyes when I saw that Kelly, Mandy and Kate linked up with me for my first week.  I half expected to see that little linky stay empty all week.

Instead, I have had an amazing week, where I received so much support and love.  Friends and family members have read my last post and offered encouragement and love. So many people were sad and angry about my experiences.

I used to be a lot more angry.  I used to feel ashamed and unwanted.  But then, my relationship God changed and grew and I came to know what He thinks of me.  And I stopped caring so much.  Then, I had two perfect, precious babies and I realized that my body is freakin' awesome.  And after that, I found What I Wore Wednesday and I posted my first full body shot of my outfit on my blog.  And I realized, hey, I'm actually not a freak and I can actually be cute and sexy!

I am loving sharing my outfits and showing that plus size or different doesn't equal unstylish.  It has been such a confidence booster to see real pictures of myself in real outfits.  I take lots of pictures, try tons of poses, edit them lightly in Photoshop (just changing lighting and focus, not changing my appearance) and I always find some that I love.

Tomorrow, a new week of 'Beautiful Just The Way I Am' begins.  Please show your support for a more loving, accepting world by linking up with me.  Take a picture of yourself or one of your outfits or your favorite accessory-whatever makes you feel beautiful- write a post about it and link up with me tomorrow.

I hope to see you tomorrow!

Summer Sunsets

It's Monday and there is precious little on my schedule.  No visiting family, no parties, nothing special to worry about plan for. 

Summer is zooming by.  I'm so excited to start a new semester in less than a month, and I have some awesome studio art classes waiting for me.  My new schedule will require me to be at school only two days a week, but I will be in classes from 9 AM to 9 PM both of those days.  I do have a couple of hours sprinkled through the day to eat and have a break, but it's about 10 hours of class a day.  Plus I have an online class.

So, I'm enjoying these last lazy weeks before school starts and Maggie turns four years old.  I'm loving swimming in the evenings, surprise trips to the best ice cream place in town, barbecues,

a cold glass on wine on the patio after the kids go to bed, watermelon, exploring a new park around town before bedtime, fresh fruit and veggies, and watching my kids' skin turn brown despite the mass quantities of sunscreen that they are covered with constantly.

But it's the sunsets that I really love.  The muggy, warm sunsets that take hours. They speak to me, and warm my heart.  The kids are usually asleep way before the sun goes down, so these sunsets are also telling me, "You're free to relax and enjoy yourself for a few hours, without worrying about kids or homework".  And I usually do. 

Easy Appetizer Recipes

Last night, my mom had the kids over for a sleepover, complete with dinner out and swimming in the evening.  Mark and I spent the night watching about five episodes of our new favorite show, Greek, on Netflix. We also had a two person cocktail party, complete with a "Mark-arita" and appetizers.  We had a wonderful, relaxing night.  We love these appetizers and it took me about 20 minutes to put these together ahead of time.

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms and Sweet N' Spicy Bacon Bites

Let me just say that these appetizers are really, really good. 

The Sweet N' Spicy Bacon Bite is amazing, and really spicy. It's my own creation, so I'm pretty proud of it. You need to try it and let me know what you think!

You'll Need:

Fresh Jalapenos- each pepper will make two appetizers, so grab 1-2 per person for a party, more if you're having an appetizer dinner like we did.

Bacon

Pineapple- fresh is best, but canned works really well,too.

Cream Cheese

Optional- Sweet N' Sour sauce for glaze.

To Assemble:

Cut the jalapenos in half, and remove all the seeds and insides.

Fill the jalapeno with a swipe of cream cheese.

Place pineapple chunks on top of cream cheese, filling the length of the pepper.

Cut the bacon slices in half, and then wrap around the pepper.

For a sweeter, stickier version, apply sweet n' sour sauce as a glaze.

Bake until bacon is as crispy as you desire, mine cooked for about 25 minutes.

For the Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms:

I improvised with these, so they're not exactly how I'd normally make them.  But, this recipe is super easy, and I really enjoyed the results.

You'll Need:

Sausage- I grabbed the Sage variety and it was flavorful and perfect for this recipe. My sausage came in a tube (sounds so gross but it's the Jimmy Dean kind)- and I used about 1/2 of it.

Whole Mushrooms- White or Crimini or even Portabella would work. I used about 12 medium sized white mushrooms.

1/2 of a small onion-diced

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1 cup mozzarella-shredded

1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese-shredded

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Pepper to taste

Wipe off any dirt of your mushrooms with a damp paper towel.  Then remove stems and throw away.

Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix with hands.  Use a spoon to liberally fill the mushroom cap with the sausage mixture.

I made both of these dishes ahead of time, and even stacked them in plastic bags, in the refrigerator.  When we were hungry, I lined them both up on a cookie sheet and baked them for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees. 

 After that amount of time, the bacon was crispy and the mushrooms were very well done and just to my liking.  You could adjust the time if you like your bacon softer.

I will be making both of these recipes ahead of time for the next party or get together I host.  Will you?

Oh, have you entered this week's giveaway for a great prize pack from Honey Nut Cheerios? Click here to enter!

MyBlogSpark- Honey Nut Cheerios Review and GIVEAWAY

Myblogspark and General Mills sent me an awesome Honey Nut Cheerios sample and prize pack to review!

They provided me with the following picture of the prize pack:

I received:

1 box of Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal

2 cereal bowls

1 Honey Nut Cheerios® t-shirt

1 bee antenna headband 
 
We were all so excited to tear into the big box that arrived on our doorstep.  I was excited about the cereal (Honey Nut Cheerios are truly one of our favorite cereals) and the kids were super excited about the bee antenna headband...and the bubble wrap.

I thought the bowls were going to be plastic, but they're not!  They're a heavy duty ceramic and I have a feeling they'll be kickin' around our house for a long time.

Someone had to try out the shirt, right?  He's still wearing it, by the way.  We were sent a men's Large and it was a little tight on my extra-large guy. He is such a good sport!

So, by now, you're probably like, "Great for you guys, but where's my free swag?" 

Well, here's the best part:

 They are also providing an identical prize pack for one of you lovely readers!

The winner will chosen randomly using random.org. The contest ends Friday, July 29 at 11:59 PM, and the winner will be announced on this blog on Saturday, July 30. 

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post.  Do you or your kids love Cheerios as much as we do?

  For additional entries:

 1. Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect or sign up for the RSS feed

2.  Follow That Kind of Mom on Twitter

3. Like That Kind of Mom on Facebook

4. Tweet about this giveaway, with a link back to this page and include @thatkindofmom in the tweet.

Then come back and let me know what name you're following me with! 

So, that's up to FIVE entries per person.

Good luck, everybody!

"Disclosure: Honey Nut Cheerios^® cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Small Style

I'm so excited to link up with Morgan over at Mama Loves Papa for Small Style!  We have been super busy with visiting family, but I managed to remember to snap a few photos to show you what my sweet girl has been wearing.

Except I didn't buy the first dress, so I can't tell you what she's wearing.

She was having a great playdate in the evening with her cousin.  We waited until about 6:45 pm, and it was warm, but not sweltering.  Maggie was playing hard enough to work up a sweat and need lots and lots of water...which she spilled on herself.  I love summer.

 I love her next outfit, and I will be so sad when she outgrows her shirtdress.  It is from Target, as are her shorts.  Her cute cupcake sandals were a gift.

I absolutely adore her silly poses.  This little girl has totally stolen my heart.  I am just smitten over her!



Did you read my post from yesterday for What I Wore Wednesday?  Honestly, it is one of favorite posts ever.  Just sayin'.

What I Wore Wednesday: Beautiful Just the Way I Am

Today, my heart is heavy.  As is my body. But, I'm taking steps to lightening both.

Before I explain, here's what I wore when we went camping with my parents and siblings last week:

Day One

Squinty eyes- the Sun
Skinny Jean- Old navy
Tank Top- Old navy
Cardigan- Target
Gold Jelly Flip-Flops-Old Navy
Owl Necklace- Target

Day Two

Yoga Pants- Old Navy
Thermal- Target
Hoodie and shoes- Given to me by my Mama

We got back Saturday afternoon, just in time to go to church the next morning.  I wore this:

Dress- Forever 21 Plus
Belt- Target
Wedges- Old Navy

Being around my entire family for extended periods of time always gets me thinking about who I am and how I got here.  I have been on a roller coaster of emotions this last week, and as I see my gorgeous, thin sisters and I grow jealous and upset at myself.

Yes, I take pictures of myself and put them on the internet for everyone to see.  I talk about confidence and about loving yourself, but let me just say it..it sucks to be fat. 

Do I have anyone to blame but myself? Nope.  But, still, it sucks.  It sucks that I have been made fun of my entire life because I have refused to live and dress like I am ashamed of myself.

When I was a cheerleader in high school, I was far and away the biggest girl on not only our squad, but of any of the other schools' we played against, too. Fans from the other team would laugh and point at me in my short skirt.  Someone in high school wrote a list about everything they thought was wrong with me and included "she has an undeserving amount of self esteem" and "the fat hanging over her jeans is disgusting" ('Muffin Top' wasn't invented yet). 

When Mark and I first started dating, a homeless man called me fat and gross as we walked by him. Frat boys would give Mark crap about being with me. The only time I have ever seen him get close to a physical fight was when someone would insult me.  Once, we were out walking downtown, and a guy leaned out of his car to call me a Fat Ass.  Another time, someone threw a lit cigarette at me from a car and yelled as he drove by. 

This is what it is like to be fat in America.

And yes, during these times of abuse, I was the weight I am in the pictures above, or even a few pounds less.  Are those images really that offensive?

So what is my goal in writing this, posting my pictures and even having a blog?  I want people to understand that no matter what someone looks like or lives their life, they just want to feel normal. They want to feel free to be loved and to love.  They want to live their life as they see it, without being told that they are sub-par for some reason.

I post pictures of myself because I want the world to be a different place. I want others to see that overweight or even obese people deserve to live their one life as they chose it. 

Maybe you're plus size or curvy or chubby or fat...whatever you want to call it.  Maybe you've been wanting to show that you can rock your outfits, but you've been nervous to link up with all the "average" sized women that normally do WIWW. Or maybe you are one of those average women, but you feel like for some reason, you don't fit in with the WIWW crowd.  Or maybe you want to show your support for me and the idea of seeing youself as beautiful just the way you are. Well, I have exciting news!

Starting today, I'm beginning a new twist on What I Wore Wednesday.  Wednesdays around here will now be known as "Beautiful Just The Way I Am!"  I hope to create a community to support each other as we embrace our beauty (and our cute clothes) whatever we may look like- and hopefully make a step towards changing the way we all treat each other! I love linking up with The Pleated Poppy, like I did this week, and it has been life-changing for me to concentrate on my wardrobe and take beautiful pictures of myself. Life-changing, I tell you! 

I will keep the linky open for the next five days, because I know this was a bit of a surprise. I truly hope you join me! And if this week doen't work for you, come back next Wednesday and join us then!

The Rules-

1. You don't have to list where you bought all your clothes- although I would love to know where everyone else gets their curvy clothes!

2. Please link to your actual post, not your blog's URL.

3. Provide a link back to http://www.thatkindofmom.com/

Link up here!

Tips for Camping with Kids

Okay, so it's not like I was camping for two weeks.  It was only three nights, but we learned a lot in that time.  Here's some of my tips for camping with very young children, and also for camping with a large group. We had two 18-month old boys, one 4 1/2 year old and one almost 4 year old with us.  We also had ten adults.

• Make sure you know exactly what the temperature will be at night and be prepared for it.  The nights were about 30 degrees, and that was COLD for us.  Liam (my 18 month old)  needed to wear light jammies under  fleece footie pajamas, and then we put him in a sleep sack.  He also had very warm blankets on the bottom of his pack n' play, and two layers of warm blankets on top of him.  Maggie (my 3 year old) wore light clothes under fleece footie pajamas, had a very warm sleeping bag, and then a comforter on top of that.  Seems like overkill, but trust me, it was necessary.

• Bring lots and lots of drinking water.  Everyone was completely dehydrated by the elevation and the sun, and I was shocked by the amount everyone needed to drink.  The kids were constantly thirsty, and I was, too!  I would bring re-usable cups with lids for each child next time, like a clean canteen.

• Even if your kids are potty trained, bring a little potty to keep in your tent.  It made a huge difference the second & third nights, after we left it in the car the first night.  Instead of a 15 minute process where everyone is freezing and looking for shoes and things in the middle of the night, it was just a minute or two for Maggie to use the potty.  I seriously can't stress how important this was for us. have a potty in the tent (and then put it outside or a designated corner)

• We brought everything for a totally supplied kitchen, including a deluxe camp stove and a canopy to cover it all.  The only issue was that it was nearly impossible to find anything.  Next time, I will organize every container according to its use and probably even the meal it will be used for.  I will also organize all the ingredients for every meal in the same cooler.

• Bring plastic tumblers to drink out of, and write everyone's name on them with tape. Or go one step farther, and bring the reusable cups with lids.

• We were lucky enough to have a big box trailer with us, and after emptying it and putting the ramp down, it was used as a place for the kids to play out of the sun.  I don't know what we would have done without it.  I know not everyone has access to such a thing, but if you have a canopy or something, it was really great to get them out of the sun.

• Water shoes: bring 'em. The little ones loved being able to splash and play in this "bay".

• Let yourself enjoy the unexpected hiccups along the way.  My favorite memory is sitting around the campfire with my three year old at one in the morning.  She woke up cold and afraid, so we sat with her until she was ready to go to sleep.  It was magical because it was so unlike our normal life.      

• Your kids are going to be dirty.  Really, really dirty.  We had an old wash tub that was perfect for wiping them down at the end of them.  Baby wipes were awesome to have around, too.  Everyone used them to clean out their nose (camping=dusty boogers).

• We brought a metal fold up fence that we put around the fire.  We still had a rule about the kids staying away from it, but the fence provided a great visual reminder to stay away.

• Do as much of the food prep at home as you can.  It's 10 times harder at the campsite, and you don't want to be the only one stuck in the "kitchen".

• The kids loved playing in the dirt, but the new toys and activities my mom brought were such a lifesaver. Play versions of things the adults were doing were a huge hit, like this fishing game we set up.  The kids were so happy to be able to fish, too!

• The adults got a little bored, so I organized "The first annual All-Natural Boat Exhibition", where we all built a boat out of materials found in the campground- but no trash or man made items.  Then we all lined up to watch them sail individually.  It was so fun- and kept everyone busy in the hours between lunch and dinner one day.  

• Pack snacks that are already made or in individual packing, either store bought or put into tupperware or something.  It was so annoying to have to look through everything to make a snack for four hungry kids.

• Bring jumper cables.  That's all I'm sayin'.

• Bring lots and lots of sunscreen and insect repellent.  Re-apply both often.  Despite our best efforts, my kids still came home a little red and covered in bug bites.

• Relax!  Don't worry about the dirt or little bumps and bruises.  My kids had a blast, and even though it was a lot of work, it was so worth it.  It might not feel like a vacation (does a vacation with kids ever equal a vacation for the parents?) but trust me, the memories and the new experiences are so valuable, and to me, they're worth it! As you can tell from this picture, I was exhausted and it was hard work, but I had a great time!

• We brought a little red wagon and it was awesome to have. Sometimes we needed to keep the little boys away from something, and it was a great to be able to put them in the wagon and go on a walk. If you have one and have the space to pack it, definitely bring it!

• Bring everything you can to make bedtime as home like as possible.  We brought their favorite books, blankets, performed our nightly version of the Three Little Pigs (another blog post all together) and my kids fell right to sleep.

• Speaking of sleep, it was really, really bright inside the tent, up until 9:30 at night. I really thought the tent would keep out more of the light, but no way. If that is a major deal, be prepared!

Well, that's my list for now! Do you have any camping tips or tricks you can share?!

Camping-Part 2

We've only been home for a day and a half and we're already planning another camping trip before the summer is over!  We had a great time, although it was a lot of work with four kids under five years old and ten adults.  We literally had a box trailer full of all of our equipment and supplies. 

The kids had the most fun throwing rocks into the river and playing in the dirt.  The two boys (Liam and my nephew, Nate) were constantly covered in dirt.  The two girls (Magdalena and my niece, Amelia) played game after game.  There were a few squabbles here and there, but mostly the kids were so happy just to be outside and dirty.

The first night was horrible as far as sleeping went.  I mean, HORRIBLE!  It was so cold, around 30 degrees, and we were just kinda shocked. Not surprised shocked, but just like shocked by how cold 30 degrees feels like in a tent. We're valley people, remember? 

We were prepared, but everything was so hard to do in the cold.  Both of the kids woke up multiple times in the night, I was freezing all night long because Maggie got into "bed" with us and I couldn't keep the sleeping bag zipped up.  Liam cried, wet through his diaper and was just upset and cold.

The next night was perfect.  We added more layers of clothing and bedding, and both of my kids slept soundly through the entire night. In fact, they both slept until 9:30! 

Making meals for that many people while camping was quite the undertaking, but it was awesome to have great food.  The first night, I was in charge of dinner, and I made chili from scratch, cornbread, potatoes in the fire (it worked great!) and salad.  We had s'mores for dessert every night, which basically put me in my happy place.

My kids are great campers. Actually, I think all kids are great campers. Dirt, everywhere?  No bath before bed? Marshmallows and hot dogs and water and cousins?  Yeah, it's pretty much paradise for the kids.

  Tomorrow, I'm going to write a little post full of the tips and tricks I learned for having a great time while camping with your kids. 'Cause I wish I would have known a few things before we left, you know?

Camping- Part 1

Yeah, I totally took the time to make something just to have a personalized header.  Between that and taking outfit pictures for What I Wore Wednesday- my family officially thinks I am crazy.

We got home from our family camping trip around noon today-after packing, driving an hour and a half home, unpacking, bathing the kids, showering ourselves and finally saying goodbye to the other family on the trip- I am exhausted! 

It was so worth it.  It was a lot of work, and not really relaxing- but, like I said- so worth it!  The kids had a wonderful time and I loved sitting around the fire with my siblings and my parents at night. 

I took 200 pictures. I'm going to go through them tonight and post my favorites over the next few days.  I'll also tell you what it's really like to go camping with two 18 month olds and two preschoolers.  I always wondered how people did it- I'll give you my tips and tricks!

Right now, I'm looking forward to the frozen pizza I plan on sticking in the oven in a few minutes (yeah, I'm over cooking right now!), watching a documentary on Netflix after the kids go to bed, and sleeping in my own bed.

And tomorrow, I'm finally seeing the last Harry Potter.  Happy Sigh!

Camping!

We're about to leave (in like a half an hour) for our first family camping trip.  We're going about 2 hours away, up into the mountains by a river. Bear country, apparently.

My whole family is going with us, including all three of my siblings and their families. I haven't been camping in ten years, so I am so excited to get into the (even fresher) air and relax.  We're bringing lots and lots of great food, and we have a brand new three bedroom tent.

In a few short hours, I plan to putting a fishing pole into the river, relaxing in my chair and most likely enjoying my favorite summer cocktail- the Markarita.  Basically, it's a margarita made by my husband, Mark. Usually he adds fresh pineapple to a blended margarita- but no blenders on a camping trip- so this one will have to be on the rocks!

I'll post lots of pictures when we get back.  See you later!

What I Wore Wednesday: Summer Fun

Welcome to another edition of What I Wore Wednesday at That Kind of Mom!

I wore this first outfit last Friday for our five year anniversary stay-cation.  I should have taken close-up pictures of my hair; it was a French braid that spiraled around my head.  The squinty expression was unfortunate and unintentional.

Don't you love this wall?!  I found it randomly a few months ago and have been meaning to take pictures here for a long time.  It was the outside of a shipping warehouse and guys kept coming in and out.  I was so afraid someone would see me that I only took three pictures and ran away. This was the best of the three!

Striped long tank, jean skirt & sunglasses- Target
Black ribbed tank & gold jelly flip flops- Old Navy

I wore this to the wedding shower/pool party I went to last Sunday, where I brought this present. It was the perfect thing to wear for getting in and out of the pool and I loved how the swimsuit peaked out at the top. The vacant expression is well, intentional.  Because I like to be all artsy and stuff. Or maybe I just like to cop a 'tude.



Maxi dress- Old Navy (purchased four years ago)
Swimsuit underneath- Old Navy- Check out my post about it here.
Sandals- Old Navy
Sunglasses- Target

Bracelets- Forever 21

Check out my other fashion posts here.

I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

Personalized Paintings

One of my goals for my "30 Before 30" project is to make every present that I give to someone this year.  I have a feeling this goal is going to make a huge impact on my life.  I have made 3 presents since I started this project in June, and I wanted to share two of those with you today.  

This first painting was made after I received a call about a last minute birthday party for Maggie's best friend and second cousin, Ellie.  I knew I had to make something, and it needed to be ready overnight. So, I made her a cute painting of her name to put in her room.  I apologize for the less than stellar photo, but I took this in a rush on the way to the party.

I spent probably 8 hours on this next painting. My friends are getting married, and had a co-ed pool party/wedding shower last weekend.  I have known Drew since Kindergarten, so it was important to me to give them a meaningful present. I chose an engagement photo online from the engagement photo session my friends Drew and Krissi had with Gem Photo, and then painted an interpretation of that photo.  I loved the final result (well, kinda...I'm a harsh critic), but it was awesome to give a personalized present.

What do you think?  Would you like a painting created from one of your photos?